Abstract

The modification of photon frequency shifting based on taking into account the nonlinear quantum electrodynamics vacuum properties in plasma is studied. Motionequations of a laser field propagating in a plasma are derived from the Heisenberg–Euler Lagrangian density. It is found that besides the classical density perturbation of the plasma electrons, the energy density perturbation of the laser field will induce the frequency shifting via the ponderomotive force of the laser field on the vacuum. In addition it is shown that the electron density will be suppressed, which is attributed to a screening effect on the plasma electrons via the quantum vacuum polarization.

Received 10 March 2010Accepted 03 May 2010Published online 16 July 2010

Acknowledgments:

This work was partly supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, China (Grant No. 09ZR1410900), the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (Project No. S30105), the Shanghai Research Foundation (Grant No. 07dz22020), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of Shanghai University (Grant No. SHUCX102008.